DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjpas.v21i2.2

GLOBAL JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES VOL. 21, 2015: 105-111 COPYRIGHT© BACHUDO SCIENCE CO. LTD PRINTED IN ISSN 1118-0579 105 www.globaljournalseries.com , Email: [email protected] SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF PRODUCTION OF PRO-VITAMIN A CASSAVA VARIETIES BY FARMERS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, , NIGERIA

J. B. EFFIONG, G. B. EFFIONG AND U. A. UDO (Received 20 October 2015; Revision Accepted 5 November 2015)

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the socio-economic determinants of the production of Pro-vitamin A Cassava varieties by farmers in Etim Ekpo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty-eight (158) respondents were selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Field data were elicited with the use of questionnaire randomly distributed to the respondents. Data were analyzed with frequency, percentage, mean and multiple regression. The results revealed that majority of the respondents were females (62.66%), married (68.99%) and 30-50 years (72.15%). Results also indicated that Income (T = 2.21), Age (T = 1.93) Farm size (T = 1.92) Marital status (T = 1.29) and Labour (T = 6.30) are the socio-economic variables that influenced the production of pro – vitamin A cassava varieties. Pro – vitamin A cassava varieties mostly planted by the farmers are TMS 01/1412 (94.34%), TMS 01/1368 (92.40%), TMS 01/ 1371 (68.35%), NR 03/0311 (58 – 23%) other varieties of Cassava (61.39%). It was recommended that essential rural development facilities should be provided for cassava farmers in the rural communities of Etim Ekpo L. G. A and Akwa Ibom State in general.

KEYWORDS: Socio-economic, production, Pro-vitamin A cassava, and varieties Etim Ekpo.

INTRODUCTION communities (www.harvestplus, 2013). Genetic improvement of cassava by natural Cassava is an important root crop widely grown selective breeding is a very promising first line by both male and female farmers in Nigeria (Ironkwe, intervention, newly improved provitamin A Cassava Mbanaso and Ezebuiro, 2011). It is a robust crop able to varieties with yellow roots have been released by the withstand disease, drought and pests. It can grow on Nigerian government, stepping up efforts to tackle the poor marginal soils and is thus cultivated and eaten problem of vitamin A deficiency especially in children where both poverty and malnutrition is widespread (National Root Crop Research Institute NRCRI, 2011; (www.harvestplus, 2013). Nigeria is currently the largest Chiedozie, 2011; Effiong and Asikong) 2013. Pro- producer of Cassava in the world with annual output of vitamin A Cassava varieties help to reduce the incidence over 34 million tones of tuberous roots. (Aroke, 2014) of vitamin A deficiency in the rural communities (Etuk Cassava production has been increasing for the past and Umoh, 2014). 20years in area cultivated and in yield per hectare. On According to NRCRI (2013), Pro-vitamin A can average, the harvested land area was over 80 percent in repair immune system and vision that could cause the 1990s, and with renewed emphasis on its production blindness. Babatunde (2012) cited in Etuk and Umoh, by federal and state governments, cassava production (2014) noted that large components of vulnerable has maintain a gradual rise (FAO, 2011). Cassava is populations; women and children in areas where important, not just as food crop but as major source of cassava consumption is high are at risk of vitamin A cash income for producing households, in comparison deficiency. Cassava is a staple food crop with worldwide with other staples, it contributes positively to poverty distribution and serve as a fundamental energy source alleviation by generating income for the largest number and food security for about 80million people Worldwide of households (Aroke, 2014). Vitamin A is an essential (FAO, 2004). According to Ironkwe et al (2011), because nutrient lacking in the diets of poor malnourished of the significant contribution of cassava to food security populations. Vitamin A deficiency retards growth, and economic development of the country, the Federal increases risk of disease, and can cause reproductive Government of Nigeria embarked upon a number of disorders. Improving Cassava production with Pro- programmes to boost its production. These include, Vitamin A (Biofortification) could significantly improve Cassava Multiplication programmes, Root and Tuber nutrition and overall health, especially among poor expansion programmes and Pro-vitamin A cassava J. B. Effiong, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, P.M.B . 1115, Calabar, , Nigeria.

G. B. Effiong, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of

Uyo, , Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. U. A. Udo, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. 106 J. B. EFFIONG, G. B. EFFIONG AND U. A. UDO production technologies amongst others. Considering Methodology the importance of cassava as a traditional staple food in The study was conducted in Etim Ekpo Local Nigeria, its productivity can be increased and sustained Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Etim through efficient utilization of existing resources. Ekpo was created from the former division, it is According to Etuk et al (2014), vitamin A deficiency is one of the Annang speaking area of Akwa Ibom State. It widely prevalent in sub-saharan Africa, it affects almost comprises of seventy villages and divided into five clans 20% of pregnant women and about 30% of children namely; Utu, , Obong, Uruk and Utu Annang. The under-five in Nigeria. This study will however help in area occupies a total land mass of about 25, 985 square various ways by strengthening extension-farmer linkage kilometers with Utu Etim Ekpo town as its headquarters. with research to facilitate the ongoing spread of Statistically, Etim Ekpo has a population of over 105, Cultivars, Management practice, increase Pro-vitamin A 418 people with 55, 771 males and 49, 647 females Cassava production and enhance rural house hold (National population census NPC, 2006). It is located income. Therefore massive production of pro-vitamin A 50km from Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State. cassava varieties are necessary in Etim Ekpo Local Etim Ekpo is bounded on the North by , Government Area, Aka Ibom State and Nigeria in South by , East by Abak and West by Ika Local general. Government Areas. Climate is tropical and marked by dry and wet seasons. It has a mean annual rainfall of Objectives of the Study 2,200mm with a daily mean temperature of 20 0c to 31 oc The major objective of this study was to which favours cassava production. The early planting determine the socio-economic determinants of period is usually between February and March, while the production of pro-vitamin A cassava varieties by farmers late planting starts between September and October in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area. However, the (Effiong and Effiong, 2015). The population of the study specific objectives were comprises all cassava farmers in the study area. 1. to describe the socio-economic characteristics Multistage sampling techniques were used in selecting of cassava farmers in Etim Ekpo Local the respondents. Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. At the first stage, three clans were randomly 2. identify pro-vitamin A cassava varieties selected out of the five clans in the Local Government available to farmers in the study area. Area based on their degree of participation in cassava 3. determine factors affecting the production of production. At the second stage, Utu, Obong and Uruk pro-vitamin A Cassava varieties in the study clans have twenty, seventeen and fifteen villages area. respectively out of which five percent were randomly selected from each, making four, three and two villages Hypothesis of the Study for the clans respectively. At the third stage, fifty-eight, There is no significant relationship between fifty and fifty households respectively were randomly socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and the selected from each village. At the last stage, a farmer production of pro-vitamin A cassava varieties in the was selected from each household giving a sample size study area. of one hundred and fifty eight (158) respondents used for the study of socio-economic determinants of production of Pro-vitamin A cassava varieties by farmers in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State as illustrated below;

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF PRODUCTION OF PRO-VITAMIN A CASSAVA VARIETIES 107

Etim Ekpo Local Government Area

Clans

Utu Ikono Obong Utu Annang Uruk

Stage 1: 3 Clans 20 17 15

Stage 2: Villages 4 3 2

Stage 3: households 58 50 50

Cassava farmer Cassava farmer Cassava farmer Per Household Per Household Per Household

158 Households

158 Respondents

Fig 1: Illustration of sampling procedure for the study Source: Field Survey, 2014

Data for the study was collected through the use of percentages. Inferential statistics used was the linear questionnaire and interview schedule and analyzed with multiple regression analysis. descriptive statistics such as frequencies and

108 J. B. EFFIONG, G. B. EFFIONG AND U. A. UDO

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table I: Distribution of Respondents according to their socio-economic characteristics. Variables Frequency (Percentage) Sex Male 59 (37.34) Female 99(62.66) Marital Status Married 109 (68.99) Single 32 (20.25) Divorced 6 (3.80) Widow 11 (6.96) Age Less than 30 years 30 (18.99) 30-50 years 114 (72.15) Above 50years 14 (8.86) Level of Education No formal Education 9 (5.70) FSLC 30 (18.99) SSCE 92 (58.23) OND/NCE 17 (10.76) HND/DEGREE 6 (3.79) Others 4 (2.54) Family size Less than 5 52 (32.91) 5-10 97 (61.39) More than 10 9 (5.70) Income Less than N20,00 5 (3.16) N20,000 – N50,00 74(46.84) Above N50,000 79 (50.00) Source of Labour Family labour 106 (67.09) Hired labour 35 (22.15) Cooperative labour 12 (7.59) Mechanical (Tractors) 3 (1.90) Others 2 (1.27) Farm size in Hectare Less than 1 26 (16.46) 1-2 101 (63.92) 2-3 19 (12.03) 3-4 7 (4.43) 4 and above 5 (3.16) Source: Field survey, 2014

Socio-economic Characteristics of Respondents: showed that a good proportion of cassava farmers in the The table above showed that a substantial proportion of study area were within the age range of 30-50 years cassava farmers in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area (72.15%), while about (18.99%) of them were below 30 were female (62.66%), while (37.74%) of them were years. The least number of respondents were those males. The implication of this finding is that cassava above 50 years of age and accounted for only (8.86%) production in the area was largely carried out by the of the cassava farmers. The implication of this is that women. This finding agreed with the findings of Effiong cassava production is carried out by active and and Effiong (2015) that, women farmers in Akwa Ibom productive population. This agreed with an earlier State are largely involved in food crop production. The submission by Aroke (2014) that cassava production is table also, showed that majority of the respondents were largely carried out by people within the productive age of married (68.99%). It also revealed that about (20.25%) 25 years and above. The table showed that cassava of the farmers were single and only (3.80%) were farmers in Etim Ekpo L.G.A. utilized a wide range of divorced. This implied that cassava production in Etim source of labour supply, in particular, a substantial Ekpo Local Government Area is frequently carried out proportion of the farmers (67.09%) used family labour, by married people. This finding agreed with an earlier while about (22.15%) used hired labour. This implies finding by Meroyi and Farinde (2011) that family level that since labour was majorly used, the farmers labour decision making process on crop production type might cost will be less as they may not need to hire more be high and valued in a study area. The table further labour. SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF PRODUCTION OF PRO-VITAMIN A CASSAVA VARIETIES 109

Table 2: Distribution of Respondents based on type of pro-vitamin A cassava varieties planted. Pro -vitamin A Cassava Varieties Planted F (%) TMS 01/1368 145 (92.40) TMS 01/1412 150 (94.34) TMS 01/1371 108 (68.35) NR 03/0311 92 (58.23) NR 03/0155 51 (32.28) Other varieties planted 97 (61.39) Multiple responses recorded Source: Field survey, 2014

Data in the table above showed that TMS 01/1412 with ability. The Table also showed that about (92.40%) 150 frequency at 94.34% multiple responses was mostly planted TMS 01/1368 while (68.35%), (58.23%), and planted by farmers in the study area. This variety (32.28%) planted TMS 01/1371, NR 03/0311 and NR according to Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Agriculture 03/0155 respectively. These varieties are high in pro- and Natural Resources AKMANR (2014) is reported to vitamin A but may not be environmentally friendly to have broad adaptability to different environmental Etim Ekpo Local Government Area and Akwa Ibom condition, high yielding and has high disease resistant Agricultural Zones.

Table 3: Summary of factors affecting production of Pro-vitamin A cassava varieties in the study area Variables F (%) Tribal preference for a particular variety 145 (91.77) Level of Education 103 (65.20) Religious factor 60 (38.00) Environmental constraints 73 (46.20) Market availability 130 (82.28) Lack of Information 115 (72.80) Land tenure pattern 53 (38.54) Inadequate funds 141 (89.33) Multiple responses recorded Source: Field survey, 2014

About 91.77 percent of the respondents agreed cassava varieties in the study area. This result agreed that tribal preference for a particular variety handed to with the findings of Effiong (2013) that tribal sentiment them by their ancestors had in one way or the other and preference affects agricultural production. Also, influence their ability to accept other varieties of cassava (38.54%) of the respondents claimed that the pattern of introduced to them by scientific discoveries. Detailed land tenure in the area resulting in unavailability of land analysis as shown in the Table above revealed that for food crop production is a major factor affecting the majority (89.33%) of the respondents indicated that production of Pro-vitamin A cassava varieties in the inadequate funds was one of the numerous problems study area. confronting them in an attempt to produce pro-vitamin A

Table 4: Linear multiple regression analysis on Socio-economic variables and the production of pro-vitamin A cassava varieties. Beta T-value Constant -1.8305 -1.440 Sex 0.010 0.502 Age 0.792* 1.93 Level of education 0.003 0.02 Income 0.260* 2.21 Labour 0.640* 6.30 Farm size 0.424* 1.92 Marital status 0.790* 1.29 Family size -0.875* 2.14 Source : Field survey, 2014 Level of significance = 0.05

R2 = 0.730 F = 6.21 T – tabulated = 1.91 110 J. B. EFFIONG, G. B. EFFIONG AND U. A. UDO

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